Supporting pad



L. MALY SUPPORTING PAD Get. 5 154 Filed Oct. 19, 1951 Patented Oct. 5, 1954 UNE'EED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates in general to a supporting means and in particular to a combination pad and support for a rectal resection patient.

Rectal resection operations are often performed on patients with malignant and non-malignant growths in their lower intestines. Colostomies are generally performed in conjunction with rectal resections and the fecal matter is removed through an opening formed in the lower abdomen of the patient. This opening is generally on the lower left side of the abdomen. The rectal resection results in many of the lower muscles being severed and a cylindrical opening of perhaps six inches in length and three inches in diameter is left by the surgeon and must grow together from the inside of the wound to the outer surface. Prior to this invention such patients have worn pads of the well-known sanitary napkin type but due to the size of the opening and the narrowness of such pads they have been very uncomfortable and unsatisfactory. Such sanitary pads have been used by fastening their ends to narrow belts worn around the patients abdomen, but they tend to gather and irritate the wound. Irritation requires that the body furnish plasma to the source of irritation and plasma causes more drainage from the wound.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a combination rectal support and pad for resection patients.

Another object of this invention is to provide a non-gathering pad.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a combination support and pad for rectal resection patients which has a flexible waistband to allow for gaseous distention of the patient.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and claim when read in view of the drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pad of this invention; and,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the pad when fiat.

Figure 1 illustrates a rectangular supporting portion forming a back portion l and a front portion H. The upper end I2 of the portion ll has one end l3 of a flexible belt I 4 attached thereto. The belt ltl passes through a loop formed in the upper end ill of the portion E0. The belt Hi passes from the loop it back to the portion l2 where it is detachably connected, as for example, with snaps ll.

Adjacent the bottom of the portions l0 and Il and extending partially up the portion i0 is mounted a pad [8 of a generally square shape. A retaining pocket holds the pad l8 and is formed with overlapping edges l9 about the pad.

The pad is may be made of folded gauze or of other suitable absorbent material. The portions 10 and I I may be made, for example, from cotton flannel so as to be soft and warm to the patient. It should be remembered that such patients are emaciated and the warmth and softness of cotton flannel is to be preferred over rubber or plastic.

The pads 18 are fiat and relatively wide thus resulting in no curling. This prevents irritation to the affected area. The relatively large size of the pad in combination with the belt l4 assures that the pad stays in place and simultaneously aids in supporting the scrotum. This is beneficial because many of the muscles are severed during rectal resection operations.

The flexible belt I4 might be made from soft cotton elastic which will allow the patients abdomen to expand due to gaseous distention without causing discomfort. Such operations result in gaseous distention and if desired the belt l4 may be adjusted to a different snap I1.

As best shown in Figure 2 an opening 2| may be made in the portion II for male patients.

After the patient leaves the hospital he may change his own dressing merely by inserting a new pad l8 in the pocket formed by the portions l9. This comprises a great psychological comfort to the patient.

It is seen that this invention provides means for supporting and covering a wound formed by rectal resection.

Although this invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A combination pad and support for a rectal resection patient comprising a rectangular portion adapted to pass between the legs of the patient, front and rear portions of said rectangular portion, said front portion having a flexible belt attached to one edge thereof, said back portion formed with a loop through which said flexible belt extends, the free end of said belt detachably connected to the opposite edge of said front portion, a generally square relatively large pocket formed on said rectangular portion at the lower part thereof, and an absorbent pad received in said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 708,933 Spaulding Sept. 9, 1902 853,708 Mathis et a1 May 14, 1907 1,195,621 Sprague Aug. 22, 1916 1,497,452 Lefkovits June 10', 1924 1,928,330 De Witt Sept. 26, 1933 2,450,789 Frieman Oct. 5, 1948 2,545,224 Butler Mar. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,317 Great Britain of 1912 

